New to the hunting scene, got a 500 with slug barrel and bushel scope and found a slug that shoots well with it. Now what is the best distance to sight in at for deer? I figured 40 would be safe because i doubt ill see anything past 50 here in central/north NJ region. Any input is appreciated.
Slug hunting distance
- Thread starter kx592
- Start date
Remember that a bullet crosses your line-of-sight twice during its path. Depending on the height of your sights (in relation to the bore), the speed of the projectile, etc, that first crossing occurs somewhere between 10 and 30 yds in front of the muzzle as the bullet rises in relation to line-of-sight. The 2nd crossing is what we refer to as the "sighted in" range as the bullet falls in relation to the line-of-sight. Sighting in at only 40 really doesn't do any good because the bullet will probably not have reached its apex by that point. Do a 75 to 100 yd sight in and you can aim at the middle of the target and be good to go from any range up to about 120yds.
rantingredneck
New member
I second what Doyle said.
Are we talking about a smoothbore or rifled slug barrel?
If the barrel is rifled, it can shoot well past 100 yds if you can. If the barrel is smoothbore 100 or so is about the practical limit for reliably making quick and ethical kills on deer size game.
Are we talking about a smoothbore or rifled slug barrel?
If the barrel is rifled, it can shoot well past 100 yds if you can. If the barrel is smoothbore 100 or so is about the practical limit for reliably making quick and ethical kills on deer size game.
kx592 This is a rifled barrel ???Better look at be'n prepared for a long shot as best as you can. You get only out to a 40 yard shot down and a nice deer goes by at 125 yards you could kill it with a good combo of barrel scope and slug. Don't just buy one type of slug and also expect it to shoot well. may ave to try differnt types and brands. Do try remington buck hammers at least, seems most all shoot them well but not flatest shooting they do work well. I have a 12ga mossy and will shoot out to 150yards but also have a range finder and info on the stock to check to.
Zero for 100 and hope for under 60. From 25 to 75 you won't be more than 2" above your point of aim.
This is what I get from both smoothbore and rifled barrels in 12 and 20 gauge. Your mileage may differ but not by much. You say you are looking forward to 50 yards being a long shot so this is good, aim for the heart/lung and you will be in there. Your hands shaking from excitement and your heart pounding from walking miles in the underbrush will have more affect on your marksmanship than your guns zero will.
Have fun and good luck.
This is what I get from both smoothbore and rifled barrels in 12 and 20 gauge. Your mileage may differ but not by much. You say you are looking forward to 50 yards being a long shot so this is good, aim for the heart/lung and you will be in there. Your hands shaking from excitement and your heart pounding from walking miles in the underbrush will have more affect on your marksmanship than your guns zero will.
Have fun and good luck.
James R. Burke
New member
They make some nice slugs now so that should help a lot. I would go with the fifty for the site in by the way you describe it there. Also they are capable of a much longer shots than that, no doubt about it. I would than see what it would do at farther distance's. Like 75, 100, 125 or what ever you like. Do alot of practice no matter what distance your sighted in for. Makes yourself better, and know were it is. A slug will drop real fast on you. You may consider 100 yards on the sight in, and again try it at differnt distances more close. But practice just for myself is the key no matter what your using. It does make you a better marksman, and will build your confidence.
Brian Pfleuger
Moderator Emeritus
kx592 said:
You know it's possible because you've shot it that far or because you've read that it's possible?
I have found the "long range" accuracy (beyond 75 yards) of sabot slugs to be dismal, sometimes worse.
In most guns, with most slugs, 100 yards is iffy. Some guns won't shoot some sabot slugs with acceptable accuracy beyond 75 yards and I've never seen a combination that good for more than 125.
Actually, I can shoot rifled slugs in a smooth bore gun with as much accuracy at 100 yards as I can almost any sabot slug in a rifled barrel. There's just a few inches trajectory difference.
I was all excited to use sabot slugs and couldn't wait to get a gun to shoot them. Why, I don't know, since long shots around here are often 60 yards, but I just dreamed of being able to make that 200 yard shot. Ain't happenin'
Oddly enough, my smooth bore 870 shot Hornady SST sabot slugs as well as any rifled barrel gun I've ever seen, at least for the first 75 yards. I never tried beyond that.
Growing up and hunting in Delaware all my life deer hunting in the firearm season meant slug guns . My fiest real deer gun was a 12ga 500 with a rifled bbl. with a 4x leupold fixed power scope the gun was and still is a great deer gun out to 125yds and maybe a bit longer.
My wife and I both now shoot H&R slug guns her's in a 20 and mine in a 12 <though i think i like the 20 more> both guns are soild 150yd deer getters and shoot alot better then some tried and true centerfire deer rifles . so dont feel second class because you are useing a slug the ones today are really good and get better every year .
Lightfeilds are a safe bet in most slug guns i have found and I have had great luck with them on deer but there are many brands and types that are top shelf now.
I think if you sited your gun in for a 2" high at 50yds because slugs can drift with a little wind out at 100 and this seems to give a better account of the gun and slug and then shot 125, 100, 75 25 yds to see when it prints its a safe bet and makes siting in a little easyer.
I have taken deer a little past the 125yrd mark with my 500 and one at 165 yrds with my H&R on the edge of a clearcut both with a lightfeild slug and none going 10yrds after the shot so main thing is to try your gun at longer ranges to see how it does.
hope this helps you some .
good luck
Ken
My wife and I both now shoot H&R slug guns her's in a 20 and mine in a 12 <though i think i like the 20 more> both guns are soild 150yd deer getters and shoot alot better then some tried and true centerfire deer rifles . so dont feel second class because you are useing a slug the ones today are really good and get better every year .
Lightfeilds are a safe bet in most slug guns i have found and I have had great luck with them on deer but there are many brands and types that are top shelf now.
I think if you sited your gun in for a 2" high at 50yds because slugs can drift with a little wind out at 100 and this seems to give a better account of the gun and slug and then shot 125, 100, 75 25 yds to see when it prints its a safe bet and makes siting in a little easyer.
I have taken deer a little past the 125yrd mark with my 500 and one at 165 yrds with my H&R on the edge of a clearcut both with a lightfeild slug and none going 10yrds after the shot so main thing is to try your gun at longer ranges to see how it does.
hope this helps you some .
good luck
Ken
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Brian Pfleuger
Moderator Emeritus
Don't assume that. My 11-87 will shoot 2" edge to edge groups at 50 yards with Winchester sabot slugs and I can't keep them on a 14" piece of paper at 100 yards. No exaggeration. Literally can't consistently hit a 14" piece of paper at 100 with slugs that shoot under 2" at 50.
As far as typical range, I have killed several dozen deer with a slug gun and there have been 2 over 100 yards. One of them was with a smooth bore 870 and was PURE luck. The other was 110 yards with Remington Core-Lokt Ultras.
Besides those two, I have never shot a single other deer beyond 50 yards and the VAST majority, I mean 90%+, have been under 30 yards.
FrontSight
New member
Why do you need a shotgun to hunt slugs? Just put a bowl of beer out at night in your garden and they will come & drown in it...
Gunplummer
New member
I have to agree with a lot of points that were made here. Peetzakilla, I don't know, I built a rifled tube on a bolt action (20G) for someone and at 100 yards it really groups with the right ammo. You do have a point though about ammo. If you put 5 shots out at 100 yards with it, 4 will be in a 2 1/4 inch circle but one will be a flyer that could be off 8-10 inches. I don't think that the ammo that is loaded can keep up with the accuracy gained by the barrel.
Like you , I have an old single shot 12 that I put a small scope on and at 60 -70 yards is really accurate with old lead slugs. I may try sabots in it now that you mentioned it.
Like you , I have an old single shot 12 that I put a small scope on and at 60 -70 yards is really accurate with old lead slugs. I may try sabots in it now that you mentioned it.
"...got a 500 with slug barrel..." Hi. Smooth bore or a rifled barrel? It matters. With a scoped shotgun and good ammo, you can expect roughly 3" groups at 100 yards with a smooth bore. You do have to try as many brands as you can to find the ammo your shotgun shoots best though. And you have to sight in just like any other firearm.
The type of slug matters too. Sabot slugs are for rifled barrels. Rifled slugs(rifling is on the slug) are for smooth bores.
The type of slug matters too. Sabot slugs are for rifled barrels. Rifled slugs(rifling is on the slug) are for smooth bores.
I have the Mossberg 500 with the rifled barrel and red dot scope. 100 yards is VERY doable. I'd even attempt 150 if it was a standing still shot. I use Federal 2-3/4 sabots and the trajectory is quite flat considering it's a slug, But in reality it's a 50 cal. bullet after the sabots drop off.